MOTOR RACING: Colin McRae, fresh from winning his third and toughest ever Safari Rally in Kenya, heads the entry for Sunday's Punchestown Rally Experience at the Co Kildare horse racing venue.
The African event marked the Scottish driver's 25th victory in World Championship rallying, and he is on an all-time high right now having won the last two championship rounds - the Acropolis in Greece and the Safari to make it three in a row for the Ford Focus RS as his Spanish team-mate, Carlos Sainz, won the Rally Argentina.
After some early season mishaps, McRae is back on target to challenge for a second world title, lying now just seven points adrift of Marcus Gronholm after round eight of the 14 championship rounds. McRae's impressive record of victories also includes the Circuit of Ireland.
He will have some tough competition on the rally sprint course from last weekend's Scottish winner, reigning Irish Tarmac Champion and current leader Andrew Nesbitt, in a Subaru Impreza WRC, Austin McHale and Davy Greer in Toyota Corolla WRC's and the quick Belgian driver Patrick Snijers.
The line up of Subaru drivers includes last Sunday's Sligo winner and Dunlop National Rally Championship leader, Niall Maguire, James Cullen, Daniel Doherty, Dom Buckley, Paul Harris, Robert Woodside and Derek McGarrity.
In addition to McRae in the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, there will be a strong Ford presence at Punchestown, with all eight of the Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship contenders making their competition debut in the identical Focus 2.0 litre "Kit Cars".
Former champion jockey Richard Dunwoody returns to Punchestown as a guest driver in a Ford Focus and Natalie Barratt drives a Hyundai Accent WRC. The event will be run over a four-kilometre all-tarmac track within the race course, with timed runs scheduled to begin from 10 a.m.
An unfortunate clash of dates sees motor racing at Mondello Park also on Sunday, featuring Robbie Coleman, Peter Walsh and John O'Hara in another Formula Ireland encounter. Also listed are Welsh saloons, Formula Vee, Sheane-Rover, Fiats and Strykers.
There is more motorcycle road racing on Sunday, the Annual Kells event on the 2.2 miles Crossakiel circuit in Co Meath which carries a prize fund of €14,610.
WEEKEND FIXTURES - Saturday: Southern KC, Kart Racing, Tynagh, Portumna, Co Galway, 8.00am; Midland MC, Autocross, Doon, Ballinahown, Co Westmeath, 9.30am; TDC Autotest, Punchestown Racecourse, Co Kildare, 10.00am; Limerick MC, Autotest, Harbour, Foynes, Co Limerick, 6.00pm. Sunday: Garda Siochana MC, World Rally Experience, Punchestown, Co Kildare, 10.00am; Midland MC, Autocross, Doon, Ballinahown, Co Westmeath, 9.30am; Kells Motorcycle Races, Crossakiel, Co Meath, 12.00pm; Carlow CC, Motor Racing, Mondello Park, 12.00pm; MRCCI, Midget Car Racing, Corkagh Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, 2 00pm.
